Page 70 of How to Seduce a Duke this Autumn
Maddie snorted. “Right, and I’m an orchid. Or should I say Rotheworth is an orchid. Just admit it, you enjoy his company, so enjoy it. Lord knows, rare poisonous plants are easier to come by than love.”
“Maddie!”
Her friend raised her hands. “What? It’s true.”
“Ashley and Sera found love. It’s not that hard.” She didn’t mention herself. There was nothing easy between her and Adam. Except kissing, maybe. And talking. And laughing. Nothing else.
“Given they are the minority, I don’t quite agree.”
Charlene shook her head, a reluctant smile tugging at her lips. She couldn’t argue against that logic. “You aren’t wrong.”
“Naturally.” Maddie picked at a leaf.
“Don’t you have anything better to do than pick my life apart?”
“Sad to say, your life is the most thrilling thing in mine.”
“That is sad.”
“Well, you know what is sadder, the Earl of Carry proposing to a pillar.”
Charlene’s eyes widened. “When was this?”
“When you were out and about with your duke.”
Oh.
“You missed quite the spectacle,” her friend added. “The man was so in his cups, but he looked at that pillar… well,” she waved her hand, “like your duke looks at you.”
“And how is that?”
“Like he’s already halfway in love.”
Charlene stilled, the words lodging somewhere between her heart and her throat. Halfway in love. It sounded impossible. Dangerous. Exhilarating. Still, she couldn’t stop herself from asking, “Only halfway?”
Maddie shrugged. “Well, I haven’t seen you together all that much. You keep disappearing with him.”
True enough.
“I might be a bit halfway, too.”
That earned her another snort. “I might not have seen you with him much, but I have seen you. You are smitten. More than halfway. In fact, any more, and the way might lead you to Bedlam.”
“Don’t be ridiculous!”
Maddie laughed. “Whatever way it is, half-way or full-way, hold onto it. Before some Miss Marteen throws herself more fully in his path.”
“Miss Martin,” Charlene muttered.
“Exactly.”
Charlene couldn’t help but chuckle at that. “I don’t think I have to worry about her.” However, that did play straight into her worry. It might not be this Miss Martin, but there might come another. But then, something inside her scoffed harder than her little fears. Way louder. Because Adam wasn’t like that.
He would never do that.
Not unless she pushed him away. She let him go. And so far, she hadn’t been able to. She didn’t think she would ever be capable of pushing him away.
“Do you think I’m foolish?” she asked her friend. “To want something more with him even though, you know, he’s a Cross?”
